This is the annual RoCs weekend meets to the delights of the Peak District National Park. We will be camping at the usual site near Hathersage at the North Lees (Peak District National Park) camp site. This is about 1 mile due North of Hathersage. This meet is suitable for all members as it is ideal for beginners and the more experienced climbers in the club. If you have never climbed outside on real rock, we can take you up some really easy nice rock. There is a wide choice of gritstone crags to choose from, some with a few multi pitch routes, but mainly all single pitch with a short walk in.
The campsite is a small friendly site with wash and shower facilities. It also has some wooden Pods if you prefer not to use a tent. All you will need for a Pod is a sleeping mat and bag plus your own cooking gear, just as you would for a tent. There is heating and lighting in the Pods. If you wish to use a Pod, please book this in advance yourself. A deposit may be required for a booking. Please indicate to me if you are camping or in a Pod. Booking in advance is required for camping so you will need to do this yourselves, in groups up to 5 per pitch with a car. If you decide to come with someone who has already booked their pitch with a car, you can add yourself by booking a pitch without a car.
The contact details for the site are 01433 650838. or their website is www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/camping/camping-northlees . To get to the campsite from Hathersage, go west on the A6187 Main Street and TR before the railway bridge up Jaggers Lane, then TR up Coggers Lane for about 1/2 mile, then TR into Birley Lane. After about 1/2 mile North Lees site is on your left just before a left hand bend. There is a wooden gate (often closed) to enter the site. We will be car sharing as much as possible due to the limited parking spaces and to save fuel costs.
Hathersage has a couple of pubs, and we will use the Robin Hood pub in Hathersage. There are also food shops and a few Outdoor gear shops so all you need for a weekend away with RoCs. If you prefer the luxury of a proper bed ???? then there are B&B’s, hotels and Youth Hostels in and around Hathersage, but book early to ensure a room. Be aware if you choose to book accommodation and we have to cancel the meet at the last moment due to extreme bad weather, you may lose your deposit.
Bring along some wet weather walking gear as well, (waterproof coat, over trousers and walking boots) just in case the weather turns damp and we decide to go for a bit of a bog trot up on the hills. You will also need to bring along breakfast and any cooking gear required, food for mid-day lunch as there are no food facilities at the crags. We will be eating at a pub in the evenings.
Organiser (WEDNESDAY 31st May TO FRIDAY 2nd June ONLY): Pete T
Other person required to organise for Saturday and Sunday climbing and evening meal bookings for Friday & Saturday night etc. If you’re interested and use Facebook, please sign up to the Facebook Event.
Members going:
- Pete T (organiser) – camping WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY (2 nights)
- Patrick – camping – camping WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY (2 nights)
- …
Climbing by the seaside, with many routes starting from the beach! The rock is excellent and there’s a wide range of routes, mainly trad but a few sport venues too. We’ll be based at Nicolaston Farm: Nicholaston Farm Touring Caravan and Campsite | Camping in Gower. From the site it’s a ten minute walk through dunes to the nearest crag.
If you’re interested and use Facebook, please sign up to the Facebook Event.
Organiser:
Members going:
- Pete
- Naomi
- Darren
- …
Only two hours from Romsey, this area offers climbing in a wide range of grades. There are single- and multi-pitch routes and some real gems in idyllic locations high above the river Wye.
If you’re interested and use Facebook, please sign up to the Facebook Event.
Organiser: Lindsay
Members going:
- Lindsay
- Jim
- Roland
- Rachel
- …
A summer trip to Devon, with local resident Mandy taking us to some of her favourite crags. She could take us to a moorland crag, or we could be at the seaside – only she knows!
Organiser: Mandy
Members going:
- Mandy
- …
This meet is aimed at outdoor novices and anyone else who needs to ease themselves back into climbing after a long layoff, although all club members will be very welcome. Fairy Cave is one of our favourite ‘local’ venues and is about an hour and forty minutes from Romsey.
There are many lower-grade routes to learn or refresh techniques and plenty of harder routes, virtually all on amenably-angled slabs, if you want to push yourself.
Organiser: Duncan
Sign up on the Facebook event if you want to go.
We’re based in the Duddon valley, an idyllic backwater away from the crowds. I’ve booked bunks for us at High Moss Cottage (grid ref SD237966, a modern climbing hut with good facilities and with some great climbing within walking distance. Twenty minutes away is Wallowbarrow, of which Rockfax says: ‘sits in a magnificent position…friendly grades…rock quality and protection are good’. Just over an hour away is Dow Crag, one of the classic Lakes big cliffs; the FRCC guidebook says: ‘first class climbing…right across the grading spectrum…a superb setting’. There are also lots of other crags within a short drive. We stayed here in 2022 and had a great time!
We’ll be sharing the chores in the hut. I’ve booked six bunks; if it looks like there are going to be more of us, I’ll see what I can arrange with the hut warden and I’ll probably need a deposit.
Organiser: John H
Members going:
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- John H
- Jim K
- Kirsty
- Matt
- …
Sign up on the Facebook event if you want to go.
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On this meet we’re going to explore some of the great scrambling, easy climbs and mountain walks in Snowdonia. RoCs has a copy of the excellent 2020 Rockfax book detailing hundreds of interesting routes – and because it’s Rockfax, the sun’s always shing!
We’re staying at The Barn climbing hut at Capel Curig, which belongs to North London Mountaineering Club. It sleeps 30 in three bunkrooms and we’ve got the whole hut to ourselves so there will be plenty of space. The barn is set in a beautifully secluded location with wonderful mountain views and only five minutes’ walk from the Tyn Y Coed Pub and A5 lay-by (GR: SH 737572, postcode: LL24 0DT). It’s centrally situated, very handy for scrambling and climbing in Ogwen and has mountain walks from the door. More details:Guest Barn – North London Mountaineering Club (nlmc.co.uk)
Organiser:
Who’s going?
- Pete
- Hannah
- Jim
- John H + 1
- Keith S
- …
Village sign
Late autumn in Spain – the rock’s warm, the beer’s cold and the pool has had eight months to warm up. If you fancy a week sport climbing in a T shirt in October, this is the trip for you! El Chorro has dozens of crags with thousands of routes and RoCs has a copy of the Rockfax guidebook. We’ll explore several areas, probably including some long (40m+) and multi-pitch routes. For more inspiration see https://mojagear.com/sport/2017/06/01/climbing-destination-guide-el-chorro-spain/.
Twelve of us went in 2022 and had a brilliant time!
More details:
Getting there – Ryanair fly from Bournemouth and some of us have already booked for 15-22 October; we’ve done this route a few times and it’s been very efficient.
Car hire – I usually book cars from Malagacar, which I’ve used several times. It’s off-airport (just), the cars are a bit older than the big companies but I’ve found it to be a reliable company.
Accommodation – I’ve rented a house for the twelve members who’ve already signed up. Hannah has generously volunteered her excellent culinary skills again to cater for us in style on most evenings (we’ll eat out on at least one), but everyone is expected to help out with chores. The house is full, but some people may not be able to make it so sign up below and I’ll add you to the reserve list. And there are plenty of other accommodation options if more want to meet up to climb.
Money – we’ll have a kitty to pay for all the above, including evening meals. The total cost will probably be £450-500 (including your flights) plus climbing-specific insurance – BMC cover recommended at about £50 for the week.
I’ve booked car hire and accommodation for those who’ve given me their deposit. I’m happy to assist anyone who wants to organise another rental property nearby!
Meet organiser: John H
Members going:
- John
- Hannah
- Matt
- Emma
- Sarah
- Tony
- Adam F
- Kirsty
- Steve E
- Jon G
- Mandy
- Tash
- …
Reserve list:
- Tessa
- …
Winter in Wales
The hut in warmer times
This meet is aimed at outdoor novices and anyone else who needs to ease themselves back into climbing after a long layoff, although all club members will be very welcome. Fairy Cave is one of our favourite ‘local’ venues and is about an hour and forty minutes from Romsey.
There are many lower-grade routes to learn or refresh techniques and plenty of harder routes, virtually all on amenably-angled slabs, if you want to push yourself. If the forecast isn’t great for Friday we could postpone until Saturday…
Sign up on the Facebook event or email john.horton(@)ntlworld.com
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